]]>By: john goldthorpehttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2010/09/27/guardian-25126-brendan/#comment-122535
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:23:12 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=21463#comment-122535Elegant and accurate from Brendan, as always. Couldn’t we have a weekly Brendan, whether on Monday or any other day?
]]>By: Eileenhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2010/09/27/guardian-25126-brendan/#comment-122531
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:52:00 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=21463#comment-122531Hi William

I’ve been out, not ignoring your query! Not being a bridge or chess player, I only found this out today but, as I said in the blog, in cards, hearts are a major suit and clubs a minor and, in chess, the rook, together with the queen, is a major piece and the bishop and knight are both minor pieces, hence the major / minor pairings of 4 and 11 and 24 and 22dn in the clue for 17.19.20.

Roger – there’s Belfast airport.

]]>By: Davyhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2010/09/27/guardian-25126-brendan/#comment-122530
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:51:41 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=21463#comment-122530Gone and hit the wrong key obviously ……
RITUALISM was also very well hidden. Yes, the puzzle was on the easy side but still made for an enjoyable couple of hours. Thanks Brendan.
]]>By: Davyhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2010/09/27/guardian-25126-brendan/#comment-122529
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:48:19 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=21463#comment-122529Thanks Eileen,

I agree that this was a very entertaining puzzle from Brendan but there again, he doesn’t usually disappoint.
It had all the elements of a good crossword to me which are a theme, an integrated structure and excellent, fair clueing. I especially liked the clues for PLANETS and LEAGUES. RITUALISM

]]>By: Timhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2010/09/27/guardian-25126-brendan/#comment-122525
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:21:19 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=21463#comment-122525Wine was the first bishop of Winchester…
]]>By: morpheushttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2010/09/27/guardian-25126-brendan/#comment-122524
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:20:54 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=21463#comment-122524good puzzle, but jebusite was a bit of a stinker to get unaided!
]]>By: Sil van den Hoekhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2010/09/27/guardian-25126-brendan/#comment-122521
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:46:29 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=21463#comment-122521Well, Roger (#11), since you ask – a Brendan Lite?
I see what you mean, but apart from the fact that this crossword was on the easy side [but after all it’s Monday], it had all the ingredients of what Brendan stands for, including a theme spread out all over the grid.
Moreover, I would like to use the word Lite exclusively for Araucaria: an Araucaria Lite is just a pleasant stroll as opposite to an Araucaria at full speed which can be a pleasant struggle.

Anyway, this was – as Eileen said – impeccable clueing (or did she say: cluing? ).
A pity that the theme was cracked too soon [after we had M-N-R in 20ac, and KEYS for 27d], but it is nice to see (occasionally) a theme on a Monday anyway [which, btw, is not a guarantee for a good crossword – but it is when Brendan’s involved].

Stand-out clues the much mentioned ADMIRATION (15d) – indeed! – and my PinC’s favourite AUTOCRAT (19d) – btw, she found this puzzle not challenging enough [but I don’t have an opinion on that for the next few weeks after last week’s emotions :)].
Agree with Eileen that AMOROUSLY (29ac) was another splendid surface.

My Clue of the Day was PLANETS (13ac) because both ‘Suite’ and ‘flat’ were used in a way that had nothing to do with the ‘housing’ surface of the clue (with ‘t[enant]s’ adding to that nicely). Very neat – a clue that can make my day.